India

Indian Army ‘likely’ to cut troops’ strength by 1,50,000 to enhance effectiveness: Report

The Indian Army, in a cadre review, will possibly cut over 150,000 troops in the coming four to five years to enhance the cadres’ effectiveness and ability to prepare for future wars, two officers close with the move told Hindustan Times.

The review was ordered on June 21 and includes reducing the personal strength and merger of different verticals to optimise its functioning, HT reported as of August 13.

Military secretary Lt Gen J S Sandhu, heading an 11-member panel will make a preliminary presentation to Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat by this month’s end. The final report is to be submitted in November.

“Merging of some verticals and rationalising roles are likely to result in cutting 50,000 troops over the next two years. A reduction of 100,000 more personnel may be possible by 2022-23. But all this is in the study phase right now,” said one of the officials.

The troop reduction will come in terms of revamping different verticals including directorates at the army HQs, logistics units, communications establishments, repair facilities and other administrative and support areas, the second official said.

The review placed concerns about how multiple verticals of the army had expanded over the years, despite technology infusion into the system.

“The line between verticals has got blurred, resulting in duplication of charters and associated manning. There is a definite case for reviewing the number of verticals with the aim of restructuring within the vertical as also merging where necessary/possible so as to arrive at economies of scale,” said the order, quoted HT.

Former Northern commander Lieutenant General BS Jaswal (retd) brought attention to the obsolete equipment of the army and negative gaps in their capabilities and said, “Downsizing of combat forces has to be offset against induction of highly sophisticated technical equipment.”

“As far as overlapping duties in logistics departments is concerned, there has to be a structured analysis to see if duplication in functioning can be streamlined into lesser number of modules,” Jaswal said.

“Theoretically, a lot of things may seem possible but you have to get into the realm of practical applications,” he added.

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